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The Constitution of India specifies the official language of the Union is Hindi, written in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devanagari Devanagari] script, and English. Originally, English was to be an official language only until 1962. The [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Official_Languages_Act,_1963 1963 Official Languages Act] allows English to continue as an official language until changed by legislation. Each state, union territory, and autonomous region has the right to designate official languages for that area. | The Constitution of India specifies the official language of the Union is Hindi, written in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devanagari Devanagari] script, and English. Originally, English was to be an official language only until 1962. The [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Official_Languages_Act,_1963 1963 Official Languages Act] allows English to continue as an official language until changed by legislation. Each state, union territory, and autonomous region has the right to designate official languages for that area. | ||
Language is diverse in India | Language is diverse in India. The 2001 census of India identified 122 major languages spoken in the country. This diversity arises from the number of separate linguistic communities on the Indian subcontinent, each of which share a common language and culture. The Constitution lists 22 ''scheduled'' languages, which are recognized by the government. There are also six ''classical'' languages, which have strong literary traditions and a large body of written literature. | ||
Some Indian languages have a long literary history - Sanskrit literature is more than 5,000 years old and Tamil 3,000. India also has some languages that do not have written forms. There are 18 officially recognized languages in India (Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in 1992) and each has produced a literature of great vitality and richness. | Some Indian languages have a long literary history - Sanskrit literature is more than 5,000 years old and Tamil 3,000. India also has some languages that do not have written forms. There are 18 officially recognized languages in India (Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in 1992) and each has produced a literature of great vitality and richness. |